Erskine Bowles Near Decision (re Helms Senate Seat)

There was no official word Tuesday about Erskine Bowles' bid for the U.S. Senate, but another powerful North Carolina politico was telling reporters that the former White House chief of staff is making the plunge.

State Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight said he talked to Bowles late last week, and "he said he planned to run."

Several other Democrats who have chatted with Bowles in recent days said Tuesday that he sure sounded like a candidate in their conversations. But they said Bowles left a little wiggle room regarding his plans.

A self-described "close friend" who spoke on Bowles' behalf insisted that he had yet to make up his mind about seeking retiring U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms' seat. But the friend, who spoke on the condition that her name not be used, said she expects a decision soon.

Bowles, a Charlotte investment banker, publicly flirted with a Senate run last spring but announced in May that he had decided against it.

Associates say Bowles is now reconsidering in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which prompted him to rethink his public-service obligations.

Bowles' son, who works in New York just blocks from the former World Trade Center, was unreachable for several hours that Tuesday. And a very good friend of Bowles' lost his son in the attack, according to Bowles' friend.

Basnight, who also considered running for the U.S. Senate last spring, said he plans to back Bowles in the Democratic primary.

Ironically, one of Bowles' possible competitors, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, was a featured guest Tuesday night at a previously scheduled fund-raiser at Bowles' Charlotte home. The event was a benefit for Lillian's List, a political action committee that helps female candidates.

Marshall said afterward that she and Bowles spoke briefly and that he said nothing definite about his plans.

From NCReview at FederalReview.

Senate Candidates

Democrats:

Former N.C. Speaker Dan Blue
N.C. Sec. State Elaine Marshall
(considering) Judge Ray Warren
(considering) Durham City Councilman Cynthia Brown
(considering) Former Ambassador Mark Erwin
(considering) Greensboro businessman Randall Kaplan
(considering) Former State Sen. Clark Plexico
(considering) Former Clinton Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles
~~Former Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker~~
~~Former Gov. Jim Hunt~~
~~Rep. Bob Etheridge~~
~~State Sen. Eric Reeves~~
~~State Sen. Marc Basnight~~

Republicans:

Former Red Cross President Elizabeth Dole
Rowan County School Board member Ada M. Fisher
Former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot
(considering) Attorney Jim Snyder
~~Rep. Richard Burr~~
~~Former Sen.~~ ~~Lauch Faircloth~~

Erskine Bowles said in May he wouldn't run. Now he is considering again and may use the recent terrorism as an excuse for his flip-flop. How crass. With Burr and Faircloth out, look for Jim Snyder to focus more seriously on the race. He has formed an exploratory committee.

Send us your insights on the race, click here.

Bowles nearing decision
There was no official word Tuesday about Erskine Bowles' bid for the U.S. Senate, but another powerful North Carolina politico was telling reporters that the former White House chief of staff is making the plunge.
--Raleigh News & Observer
----Another sacrificial lamb to the Dole juggernaught? And, N&O staffers, the guy already made his decision in May. Now he's nearing "another" decision. Get the headline right.

I'm wondering if Dole's candidacy is the best for NC or the sountry. I know she is a sweetheart of the GOP and the party owes her family a large debt of gratitude but NC is very conservative and this may be a good opportunity to elect another (Helmsesque) conservative- why settle for a lib/moderate just because of her last name. neither Doles have ever bee very conservative. If the Dem's put up a pseudo-conservative candidate in this race, they just might take this seat.

I've had the same doubts about Dole. Here's how I've come (reluctantly) to accept her candidacy. According to the polls, she'd beat Jim Hunt, if he ran. He is the most popular Democrat politician in the state and was governor for 16 years.

I suspect that, even though Dole is "not on the reservation" on all issues, I cannot imagine that she would do anything in the Senate that would embarrass, or even contrast with, the desires of the Bush Administration. She'd be a loyal foot soldier. However, with a Democrat in, it would be harder to keep her in line.

My preferred candidate was Richard Burr, but he's not running. Vinroot doesn't deserve the vote because of the way he has acted toward Republican activists in NC, and because of his dubious conservative credentials.

So, it'll be Dole (although, I'm keeping open-minded).

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.